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WisconsinChristianNews.com
Volume 25, Issue 4
Depressed People Of the Bible: Ahab — Controlled By Others
By Jeff Zaremsky August 2024
heard that Naboth was dead she said to Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is dead.” Ahab got up and
“the word of the Lord came to Elijah, saying, ‘See Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Be- cause he humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity in his days.’”
“There was no one like Ahab who sold him- self to do wickedness in the sight of the Lord,” and then the Bible tells us why: “because Jezebel his wife stirred him up.” Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vine- yard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near, next to my house; and for it I will give you a vineyard better than it. Or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its worth in money.” Naboth said, “The Lord forbid that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you!” “Ahab went into his house sullen and dis- pleased… He lay down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no food.” Ahab was depressed because he did not get what he wanted. “Jezebel his wife said to him, ‘You exercise authority over Israel! Arise, eat food, and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vine- yard of Naboth.’” Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sent them to the elders and had them murder Naboth. When Jezebel
Oh what a merciful God we serve who even had mercy on one such as Ahab.
How much more will He be merciful to you and me, no matter how wicked we have been, if we repent. If God can be so merciful with us and with the Ahabs of this world, can’t He give us that same mercy toward the Ahabs in our lives? Yes, He can. Ahab had become sullen and depressed when he did not get what he wanted. Even though Ahab had more than most people, he wanted more. Greed and discontentment are never satisfied with more. Contentment is not based on what we have; it is based on a choice we make. We do not “become” content, we “choose” to be content. Paul wrote from a dungeon where he had been unjustly imprisoned: “Whatever circumstance I am in, I have learned to be content. I know what it is to live with humble means, and I know what it is to live in prosperity. In any and every circum- stance I have learned the secret of contentment — both to be filled and to go hungry, to have abundance and to suffer need. I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:11-13 TLV). Hopefully you and I are not falsely accused and locked in a dungeon right now, but even if we are, through Messiah we can choose to be content in whatever state we are currently in. Ahab allowed himself to be controlled by his wife, Jezebel. Even though he was king, he was insecure about who he was and so he al- lowed other people and circumstances to con- trol his actions and his feelings. No one else should control us. We are subject to God and God alone. We can listen to other people’s opinions, we can heed their advice, but we should not blindly follow or be controlled by anyone. We can be secure in who we are because of God’s great love for us. Our worth is not in ourselves or our abilities but in the price that was paid for us — the sacrifice of the Messiah Himself. We are princes and princesses of God because He has adopted us as His children. We are co-inheritors with Him and beloved in Him. Since we have surrendered our lives to the God of heaven and become His servants and children, we no longer need to fear any- one or be controlled by anyone. Learn more about Elijah, and other de- pressed people of the Bible in the book “De- pressed People of the Bible,” available where most books are sold. Author’s Disclaimer: The information I will be sharing is not intended for diagnosis or treat- ment of depression. It is a biblical reflection on people throughout the Scriptures who dealt with depression and how God carried them through it to healing and purpose.
went down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth.
The word of the Lord came to Elijah, saying, “Go meet Ahab… in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone down to take possession of it. Say, ‘Thus says the Lord: Have you mur- dered and also taken possession? Thus says the Lord: In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood.’” Wow! Ahab responded, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” Elijah said, “I have found you, because you have sold your- self to do evil in the sight of the Lord: ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on you. I will take away your pos- terity, and will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both bond and free… because of the provocation with which you have provoked Me to anger, and made Israel sin…. Dogs shall eat Jezebel.’”
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Wouldn’t you like it if every time some jerk like Ahab did some dirty deed that God would immediately send an Elijah to rebuke him and tell him he’s gonna get it? But that is not always how God works. He prefers to use His still, small voice. It really took guts on Elijah’s part to meet Ahab in that vineyard. That is true meekness — humble
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before God, bold (when necessary) be- fore people. Why did God send Elijah? Was it just so Elijah could let Ahab have it and give him the tongue- lashing he deserved? No, it was because God loved Ahab. Yes, God loved Ahab, even that vacillating, cry- baby thief, Ahab. God was sending a wake- up warning to Ahab through Elijah. “So it was, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his body, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went about mourning.”
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That was repen- tance not depression,
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